Planning Commissioners To Vote On Plaza de Panama Project

Tomorrow, June 7, San Diego's planning commission will discuss the plan to remove traffic from Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama. And, if the agenda is any indication, commissioners are anticipating a lengthy debate. The proposal is the only project listed on the agenda.

The vote from planning commissioners whether to amend the Balboa Park Master Plan will be the last one before heading to the City Council.

It's been a long, and bumpy, road since the proposal was first introduced by Qualcomm-founder Irwin Jacobs in 2010. It has divided the community with historical preservation group Save Our Heritage Organisation leading the charge, mainly in objection to the bypass bridge.

Proponents, such as Mayor Sanders and others, say the plan will give the park back to pedestrians.

But it has been an uphill road for those proponents.

Several community groups have come out against the proposal. And, on May 8 the National Park Service wrote a letter to Councilmember Kevin Faulconer critical of the plan, saying it would have a "permanent, major and adverse effect on the integrity of the Balboa Park National Historical Landmark."

Comments

removing pavement and adding access and green space by
way of car deletion

combining adding access and restoring green space with
engaging marginalized people, tying community elements together
while simultaneously, incrementally, and in a need-matched fashion,
marrying IT with new transit options, benefiting a wider area.

As I will not be attending the Planning Commission meeting
(I have to make a living when I'm not doing this,) I offer these
ideas for the purpose of your seeing the potential advisability of
deliberating further as to new options and compromises.